Modular storage assembly

ABSTRACT

A storage assembly has a plurality of panels that are assembled to form a plurality of storage spaces, a plurality of connectors for coupling adjacent panels to form the plurality of storage spaces, and at least one tray positioned inside one of the storage spaces. Each connector has a generally circular body having a plurality of spaced-apart scalloped regions, with a recess provided at each of the locations of the scalloped regions. The storage system includes a caster having a wheel and a caster frame. The caster frame has a body, a bore provided therethrough for receiving the wheel, and at least two spaced-apart passages formed in the circumference of the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to storage assemblies that are used tostore a wide variety of objects. In particular, the present inventionrelates to a modular storage assembly that can be assembled by a user tothe desired shape and size, that allows its trays to be removed andrepositioned, and that is simple in construction.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Portable storage assemblies are very popular today because they providethe user with much flexibility and convenience in use. For example, manyof these conventional storage assemblies are usually provided in theform of a plurality of grated panels that have crossing bars. Thesepanels can be connected together to form a plurality of cubic orrectangular storage spaces (hereinafter referred to as “storage units”).These panels can be assembled in any desired manner to form storageunits of different sizes to fit the rooms or locations where theseassemblies are to be used. In addition, some of these conventionalstorage assemblies are provided with wheels or casters that allow themto be quickly and conveniently moved from one location to another.Further flexibility and convenience is provided in that theseconventional storage assemblies can be disassembled for (a)reconstruction into a different configuration, or (b) re-location todifferent locations.

Unfortunately, most of these presently-available storage assembliessuffer from a number of drawbacks. As a first example, the connectionsthat are used to connect adjacent panels to form the storage units maybe weak, so that the stability of the storage assembly is compromised.This will prevent the user from forming a large storage assembly, sincethe weak joints will be unable to support a large assembly that willpresumably be quite heavy from storing a large number of objects anditems. Second, some of the connectors used to connect adjacent panels toform the storage units have a complex structure or are difficult toinstall and to remove. Third, the casters are not always securely fittedat the bottom of these conventional storage assemblies, so that thecasters often fall off when the storage assembly is pushed or slightlyshifted from its original position. These loose casters pose a seriousstability problem because the storage assembly would tilt, and dependingon what is stored inside the respective storage units, may even causethe storage assembly to collapse.

As a result, there remains a need for a portable storage assembly thatis easy and convenient to assemble, use, disassemble, and transport, andwhich is stable enough to support a large number of storage units andheavy objects inside these storage units.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In order to accomplish the objects of the present invention, there isprovided a storage assembly, a plurality of panels that are assembled toform a plurality of storage spaces, a plurality of connectors forcoupling adjacent panels to form the plurality of storage spaces, and atleast one tray positioned inside one of the storage spaces.

In one embodiment of the present invention, each connector has agenerally circular body having a plurality of spaced-apart scallopedregions, with a recess provided at each of the locations of thescalloped regions.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the storage systemincludes a caster having a wheel and a caster frame. The caster framecan have a body, a bore provided therethrough for receiving the wheel,and at least two spaced-apart passages formed in the circumference ofthe body.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the storage systemincludes a pair of tracks, each track having a body that has a first endand an opposing second end, and a horizontal groove for receiving oneside edge of the tray. Each track further includes a first attachmentmechanism and a second attachment mechanism spaced-apart from the firstattachment mechanism, with each of the first and second attachmentmechanisms receiving a separate bar of a panel. The first attachmentmechanism is positioned on the body at a first distance from the firstend, and with the second attachment mechanism is positioned on the bodyat a second distance from the second end, with the first distance beinggreater than the second distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the storage assembly of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one panel, a connector, and atrack from the storage assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the connector of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of the connector of FIG. 3 takenalong lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a front plan view of the connector of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5B is a side plan view of the connector of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5C is a rear plan view of a conventional connector.

FIG. 5D is a rear plan view of the connector of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the track of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the track of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the caster frame of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the caster frame of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the caster frame of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the caster frame of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 12 is a left side plan view of the caster frame of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 13 is a front plan view of the caster frame of FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional plan view of the caster frame of FIGS. 8and 9 taken along lines A--A of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the region B in FIG. 13.

FIGS. 16-19 illustrate how the caster frame is secured to a grid openingin a panel.

FIG. 20 illustrates how two separate tracks of FIG. 6 can be aligned atthe vertical level on opposite sides of the same panel.

FIG. 21 illustrates different ways of positioning the panels of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplatedmodes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be takenin a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustratinggeneral principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of theinvention is best defined by the appended claims. In certain instances,detailed descriptions of well-known devices, components, mechanisms andmethods are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the presentinvention with unnecessary detail.

The present invention provides a portable storage assembly 20. Referringfirst to FIG. 1, the assembly 20 is made up of four types of components:panels 22, connectors 24, tracks 26 and casters 28. These components areused to form rectangular or cubic storage units 30. Any number of eachof these components can be provided, and each will be described indetail hereinbelow. These four types of components are used as the basicbuilding blocks for assembling a portable storage assembly 20 accordingto the present invention. The panels 22 define the storage units 30, theconnectors 24 are used to couple the panels 22 in a manner to define thestorage units, opposing pairs of tracks 26 are provided in each storageunit 30, and a plurality (e.g., four) casters 28 are provided at thefour base storage units 30 to support the assembly 20. A tray 32 can beinserted in any storage unit 30 along two opposing tracks 26.

Referring to FIG. 2, each panel 22 can be made of a plurality ofcrossing horizontal metal bars 34H and vertical metal bars 34V. Thesecrossing bars 34H and 34V create a plurality of four-sided grid openings36. In one embodiment of the present invention, each of these gridopenings 36 is preferably square in shape, and is identical, except forthe corner grid opening 36 c of each panel 22. Each grid opening 36 ispreferably sized to allow for use of the resulting panel 22 or its gridopenings 36 together with the connectors 24 and casters 28 describedhereinbelow. The panel 22 is bordered by four border bars 38 a, 38 b, 38c and 38 d that can have a slightly larger diameter than the crossingbars 34H and 34V. The metal bars 34V and 34H can be chrome-plated orcovered with a coating of powder-coated epoxy to provide insulationagainst rust, and to provide any desired color. Therefore, differentpanels 22 can be provided in different colors to enhance the aestheticappearance of the resulting assembly 20. In one embodiment of thepresent, the size of each panel 22 is preferably the same to provide forthe desired modularity, although this is not necessary. In addition, theoverall size of each panel 22 can be varied by increasing the number ofgrid openings 36, and/or by increasing the size of each grid opening 36.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5A and 5B, a connector 24 has a generallycircular body 44 with four spaced-apart scalloped regions 46 a, 46 b, 46c, 46 d. Four spaced-apart internal recesses 48 a, 48 b, 48 c, 48 d arecut from the body 44 along the circumference of the body 44 at thelocations of the scalloped regions 46 a, 46 b, 46 c, 46 d. Each recess48 a, 48 b, 48 c, 48 d defines a space that can be identical to eachother, and can be spaced apart by about ninety degrees. A generallyconical extension 50 extends from one surface or side 52 of the body 44,and can be provided with a bore 54 extending through the conicalextension 50 and terminating at the surface 52. Four spaced-apart pairsof scallop-shaped walls 56 a and 58 a, 56 b and 58 b, 56 c and 58 c, and56 d and 58 d also extend from the surface 52 and each pair of walls 56and 58 defines a space 60 therebetween. The four spaced-apart pairs ofwalls 56 a and 58 a, 56 b and 58 b, 56 c and 58 c, and 56 d and 58 d canbe positioned about ninety degrees from each other. Each space 60 can beidentical with each other, and can have the same width or thickness asthe space defined by each recess 48 a, 48 b, 48 c, 48 d. In addition,bumps 62 can extend from the inner surfaces 64 of each recess 48 a, 48b, 48 c, 48 d, and from the inner surfaces 66 of each wall 56 and 58. Inone embodiment, each connector 24 can have the same configuration andsize. The connector 24 can be molded from plastic or cut from a metal.

Referring back to FIG. 2, a corner (such as 70) of a panel 22 can beinserted into either a recess 48 or the space 60 between a set of twowalls 56, 58 of the connector 24. The bumps 62 in each of the recesses48 or spaces 60 improve the grip of the connector 24 on the adjacentborder bars 38 that define that particular corner 70, thereby minimizingthe possibility that the corner 70 will become dislodged from theparticular recess 48 or space 60 when the assembly 20 is deployed. Asshown in FIG. 1, each connector 24 can connect up to eight separatepanels 22, since each connector 24 has four spaces 60 and four recesses48. For example, the connector 24 a in FIG. 1 can connect four panels 22a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d in a single plane using its four recesses 48, andcan also connect another four panels 22 e, 22 f, 22 g, 22 h in two otherseparate and intersecting planes. The ninety-degree spacing between therecesses 48 and spaces 60 allow for the formation of generallyrectangular or cubic storage units 30 by selectively connecting certaincorners 70 of selected panels 22 to selected connectors 24. Thus, thepanels 70 can be quickly and conveniently connected to and removed fromthe connectors 24.

FIGS. 5C and 5D illustrate the advantages provided by a scallopedoutline of the connector 24. Referring to FIG. 5C, a conventionalconnector 18 is typically circular in configuration, and would haverecesses similar to recesses 48 to grip the border bars 38 of a panel22. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 5D, the scalloped regions 46 of theconnector 24 allow the body 44 of the connector 24 to be larger while(1) minimizing the area of the body 44 that intrudes into the confinesof the panel 22, and (2) minimizing the material (and therefore weight)of the connector 24. The larger size of the body 44 enables each recess48 to grip or retain a greater length of each border bar 38 that definesa corner 70 (i.e., compared shaded portions 19 a and 19 b in FIGS. 5Cand 5D). Yet despite having a larger size, the body 44 would appearsmaller because of its scalloped configuration.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate one track 26. Each track 26 can have the samestructure, and is essentially a U-shaped body that has parallelhorizontal walls 76 connected by a vertical wall 78 to define ahorizontal groove 80 between the horizontal walls 76. The opposing ends82 and 84 of the horizontal walls 76 are slanted or tapered (see 86) soas to make it easier for a user to insert an edge of a tray 32 into thegroove 80. In addition, the tapering 86 will cause the tray 32 to falloff or become disengaged from the track 26 when the tray 32 is pulledout to a position where its rear edge is adjacent a tapered end 82 or84. Otherwise, causing an end 82 or 84 of an untapered track 26 tosupport the entire weight of an open tray 32 may result in cracking orbreakage of the track 26.

Two attachment mechanisms 88 and 90 are attached (e.g., by welding,molding or by forming the mechanisms 88, 90 in one piece with the walls76, 78) to the outer surface 92 of the vertical wall 78 in aspaced-apart manner. Each attachment mechanism 88, 90 has a U-shapedsection 94 that defines a vertical groove 96 that is orientedorthogonally to the groove 80. Support flanges 98 extend from eachattachment mechanism 88, 90 and are attached to the exterior of thehorizontal walls 76 to minimize warpage or bending of the U-shapedsection 94 when the horizontal walls 76 are supporting the weight of atray 32 and its contents.

Each track 26 can be quickly and conveniently coupled to the panels 22.Specifically, one or more tracks 26 are provided on opposing verticalside panels 22 that define a storage unit 30. The tracks 26 on opposingvertical side panels 22 should be aligned at the same vertical level.The coupling is accomplished by fitting each attachment mechanism 88, 90between two horizontal bars 34H inside a separate grid opening 36 alongthe same row of grid openings 36 so as to maintain the same verticallevel. The height of each U-shaped section 94 is dimensioned so that itis slightly smaller than (but about the same as) the size of the gridopenings 36, so that the U-shaped section 94 can be fitted inside a gridopening 36 and securely retained within the vertical confines of thatgrid opening 36. After a U-shaped section 94 is fitted inside a gridopening 36, a vertical bar 34V of that same grid opening 36 snapped orforce-fitted inside the groove 96 of the U-shaped section 94 toeffectuate the connection. The two attachment mechanisms 88 and 90 arespaced-apart at a specific distance so that each U-shaped section 94 cansecurely grip and retain two separate and spaced-apart vertical bars34V. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, the distance between the twoattachment mechanisms 88, 90 is sufficiently large so that the twovertical bars 34V that are to be gripped are positioned as far apartwithin a panel 22. Providing the connection points (i.e., the attachmentmechanisms 88, 90) further apart will distribute the load of the tray 32along a greater length, so as to enable the track 26 to be more securelyconnected to the panel 22.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the attachmentmechanisms 88 and 90 can be positioned on the tracks 26 (i.e., spacedapart) in a manner that allows two separate tracks 26 to be aligned atthe same vertical level on opposite sides of the same panel 22.Referring to FIGS. 2 and 20, a first track 26 a has one attachmentmechanism 88 positioned closer to one end 82 of the track 26 than theother attachment mechanism 90 is positioned closer to the other end 84.As a result, the first attachment mechanism 88 for the first track 26 ais spaced apart from a border bar 38 d by one grid opening 36, and thesecond attachment mechanism 90 for this first track 26 a is spaced apartfrom an opposing border bar 38 b by two grid openings 36. A second track26 b having the same structure as the first track 26 a can be secured atthe same vertical level as the first track 26 a on the opposite side ofthe panel 22, since the first attachment mechanism 88 of the secondtrack 26 b is spaced apart from the border bar 38 b by one grid opening36, and the second attachment mechanism 90 of this second track 26 b isspaced apart from an opposing border bar 38 d by two grid openings 36.In other words, the different distances between the attachmentmechanisms 88 and 90 and their respective ends 82 and 84, respectively,means that two identical tracks 26 can be reversed (i.e., with the rearof their U-shaped sections 94 facing each other) and have theirrespective attachment mechanisms 88 and 90 grip separate vertical bars34V on the same panel 22.

Each pair of opposing tracks 26 positioned within a storage unit 30 canbe used to slidably support the flanged side edges of a tray 32. Anynumber of pairs of opposing tracks 26 (and therefore any number of trays32) can be provided for each storage unit 30 to support anycorresponding number of trays 32. The trays 32 can be any conventionaltray, made of metal bars or even of solid plastic, rattan bars, or wovenbamboo bars, having flanged side edges that can be slid into and alongthe horizontal grooves 96 of the tracks 26.

FIGS. 8-15 illustrate a caster frame 100 that can be used with thecaster 28. The caster frame 100 of the present invention is designed tobe securely positioned within a corner grid opening 36 c of the panel 22so as to prevent dislodgement thereof, and operates on the basicprinciple of providing four separate passages, with two of the passagesadapted to tightly grip two adjacent border bars 38 (e.g., 38 b and 38 cin FIG. 2), and with each of the other two passages adapted to retaineither a horizontal bar 34H or a vertical bar 34V.

The caster frame 100 has a generally circular body having a concavefront portion 102 and a convex rear portion 104. The concave frontportion 102 resembles a concave wall. The caster frame 100 can be moldedfrom plastic or cut from metal. Four passages are formed from thecircumferential side edge of the circular body 100 at about ninetydegrees apart from each other: a first passage 106 and a second passage108 provided at the corners or opposing ends of the concave frontportion 102, and a third passage 110 and a fourth passage 112 providedat the corners or opposing ends of the convex rear portion 104. Thefirst and second passages 106, 108 are adapted to grip and retain twoadjacent border bars 38 (e.g., 38 b and 38 c in FIG. 2), and each of thethird and fourth passages 110, 112 is adapted to retain a horizontal bar34H or a vertical bar 34V. The first and second passages 106, 108 aredisposed at the same vertical level, while the third and fourth passages110, 112 are disposed at a higher vertical level.

The caster frame 100 has three flanged edges that extend radiallyoutwardly from the body 100 along a portion of the circumferencethereof. A first flanged edge 114 extends at the same vertical levelfrom the second passage 108 towards the rear portion 104. A secondflanged edge 116 extends between the third and fourth passages 110, 112along the rear portion 104 at the same vertical level as the third andfourth passages 110, 112. A third flanged edge 118 extends at the samevertical level from the fourth passage 112 towards the front portion 102until it reaches a slope 120. This slope 120 is actually a slopingvertical wall which extends from the first passage 106, and acts as astop surface in the manner described below. Thus, the second and thirdflanged edges 116 and 118 are at the same vertical level as the thirdand fourth passages 110, 112, and the first flanged edge 114 is at thesame vertical level as the first and second passages 106, 108.

The body 100 has three vertical side walls 122, 124, 126, each verticalside wall 122, 124, 126 extending vertically from one of the flangededges 114, 116, 118, respectively. For example, a first vertical sidewall 122 is provided between the second and third passages 108, 110, andextends from the first flanged edge 114 to a vertical level that is evenhigher than the vertical level of the third passage 110. A secondvertical side wall 124 is provided between the third and fourth passages110, 112, and extends from the second flanged edge 116 to a verticallevel that is even higher than the vertical level of the third andfourth passages 110, 112. A third vertical side wall 126 is providedbetween the first and fourth passages 106, 112, and extends from thethird flanged edge 118 to a vertical level that is even higher than thevertical level of the third and fourth passages 110, 112. As explainedbelow, the three vertical side walls 122, 124, 126 function to help theuser align the caster frame 100 by aligning each vertical side wall 122,124, 126 with a separate bar 34V, 34H or 38 during the installation ofthe caster frame 100.

The concave portion 102 is provided with a concave configuration so asto allow for unobstructed rotation of the body 100 within a corner gridopening 36 c, as explained in greater detail below. In addition, atransverse ridge 130 extends across the bottom of the body 100 and actsas a gripping handle. A bore 132 extends through the center of the body100, and is adapted to receive and retain a caster shaft 134 (see FIG.19).

FIGS. 16-19 illustrate how the caster 28 and its frame 100 are installedon a bottom panel, such as 22 i in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 16, eachpanel 22 has a top side and a bottom side, with the top sidecharacterized by the bars 34H and 34V being attached on top or over theborder bars 38, and the bottom side being the opposite side. Each casterframe 100 is inserted through a corner grid opening 36 c from the bottomside of the panel 22, as indicated by arrow A1 in FIG. 16. In addition,each caster frame 100 is inserted in a manner such that the second andthird flange edges 116 and 118 are positioned against the vertical andhorizontal bars 34V and 34H, respectively, for that corner grid opening36 c, and the first flange edge 114 is positioned against a border bar38 (in FIG. 17, it is 38 b). When the caster frame 100 is positionedinside the corner grid opening 36C (see FIG. 17), the horizontal andvertical bars 34H and 34V are adjacent the second and third verticalside walls 124 and 126, respectively, and the border bar 38 b isadjacent the first vertical side wall 122.

At this time, the caster frame 100 is rotated about 45 degreescounterclockwise in the direction of arrow A2 in FIG. 17. This causesthe border bar 38 c to be slid into the first passage 106 and securelyretained therein, and the border bar 38 c to be slid into the secondpassage 108 and securely retained therein (see FIG. 18). Thus, the firstand second passages 106 and 108 can be dimensioned so that the borderbars 38 c and 38 b are securely held inside the first and secondpassages 106 and 108, respectively, by a friction fit. When in theposition shown in FIG. 18, the third and fourth passages 110 and 112 canbe dimensioned so that the horizontal and vertical bars 34H and 34V,respectively, are loosely positioned inside the third and fourthpassages 110 and 112, respectively. Up to two stop surfaces operate tolimit rotation of the caster frame 100 in the counterclockwisedirection. One such stop surface is the slope 120, which abuts againstthe border bar 38 c to prevent further rotation of the caster frame 100.The other such stop surface is the vertical side wall 122, whose endabuts against the horizontal bar 34H when in the position shown in FIG.18. These two stop surfaces are therefore opposite to each other, andabut against opposite bars 38 c and 34H.

To remove the caster frame 100, the user merely rotates the caster frame100 clockwise by 45 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 18 back tothe position shown in FIG. 17.

The caster frame 100 is configured so that clockwise rotation from theposition shown in FIG. 17 is not possible. This is accomplished byproviding the first and second passages 106, 108 at different verticallevels from the third and fourth passages 110, 112. These differentvertical levels are dimensioned to correspond to the difference in thelevels between the border bars 38 b, 38 c and the horizontal andvertical bars 34H, 34V. For example, if the caster frame 100 wererotated clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 17, the first passage106 cannot receive the vertical bar 34V because the vertical bar 34V isat a higher vertical level than the first passage 106, thereby causingthe vertical bar 34V to abut the third vertical side wall 126. A similareffect occurs at the opposite side, where the third passage 110 cannotreceive the border bar 38 b because the border bar 38 b is at a lowervertical level than the third passage 110, thereby causing the borderbar 38 b to abut the first vertical side wall 122.

Thus, the manner in which the stop surfaces 120, 122 and 126 limitclockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the caster frame 100, and thefriction fit securement of the border bars 38 c and 38 b inside thefirst and second passages 106, 108, together ensure a secureinstallation of the caster frame 100 to the panel 22 i, and essentiallyprevents the caster frame 100 from being dislodged from the panel 22 i.

Referring now to FIG. 19, with the caster frame 100 secured to the panel22 i, the caster 28 can be installed on to the caster frame 100. Theshaft 134 is inserted through the bore 132. The bore 132 can beconfigured such that its diameter at the top is less than its diameterat the bottom. Therefore, the shaft 134 can be secured inside the bore132 by virtue of the friction or snap fit of the top of the shaft 134with the top of the bore 132. The caster 28 can be any conventionalcaster.

Thus, the storage assembly 20 of the present invention provides strengthand stability, which it derives from the construction of the connectors24 which securely connects adjacent panels 22, and the construction ofthe caster frame 100, which allows the caster frame 100 to be securelypositioned on a bottom panel 22 i to prevent dislodgment therefrom. Theconnectors 24, tracks 26 and caster frames 100 are all easy to use andcan be installed quickly using minimal force.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments andalternatives described above are non-limiting examples only, and thatcertain modifications can be made without departing from the spirit andscope thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover suchmodifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of thepresent invention. As a non-limiting example, as illustrated in FIG. 21,panels 22 x can be positioned vertically within each storage unit 30 bysecuring tracks 26 x to horizontally-positioned panels 22. In addition,instead of trays 32, panels 22 y can be positioned horizontally betweentracks 26 within each storage unit 30.

1. In combination: a. a panel having a plurality of crossing bars thatdefine a plurality of grids; and b. a caster having a wheel and a casterframe, the caster frame including: a body having an outer surface, and abore provided through the body for receiving the wheel; and at least twospaced-apart passages extending along the outer surface of the body; c.wherein the body is positioned in one of the grids with a separate oneof the bars is fitted in each of the passages.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1, wherein the at least two spaced-apart passages comprises afirst passage, a second passage, a third passage and a fourth passage,with the first and second passages provided at a vertical level that isdifferent from the vertical level of the third and fourth passages. 3.The combination of claim 2, wherein the first and second passages arespaced apart by about ninety degrees.
 4. The combination of claim 1,wherein each passage is spaced apart from an adjacent passage by aboutninety degrees.
 5. The combination of claim 1, wherein the at least twospaced-apart passages comprises a first passage and a second passage,and a concave side wall between the first and second passages.
 6. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein the caster frame further includes a stopsurface adjacent the first passage.
 7. The combination of claim 6,wherein the stop surface is a first stop surface, and wherein the casterframe further includes a second stop surface opposite the first stopsurface.
 8. The combination of claim 2, wherein the caster frame furtherincludes a first flange edge extending between the first and fourthpassages.
 9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the caster framefurther includes a second flange edge extending between the second andthird passages.
 10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the caster framefurther includes a third flange edge extending between the third andfourth passages.
 11. The combination of claim 8, wherein the casterframe further includes a first vertical wall extending from the firstflange edge. 12-22. (Canceled).